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About This Page: This is a discussion on LA Kings Talk within the LetsGoKings.com forums, at Los Angeles Kings Hockey Fan Forum. @
Los Angeles Kings (26-34-4) 56 pts
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Edmonton Oilers (29-30-5) 63 pts
Game Time: 6:00 PM PST | 9:00 PM EST
Location: Rexall Place | Edmonton, AB
The Edmonton Oilers have enjoyed a significant advantage at home in February. They'll be hoping for similar success against the Los Angeles Kings, who have struggled as visitors.
The Oilers look to extend their season-high, five-game winning streak at Rexall Place as they continue their five-game homestand against the Kings on Thursday night in their final meeting.
Edmonton (29-30-5) lost its first home game of the month, but has since won five straight games at Rexall Place - its longest streak there since taking six in a row from Oct. 5-Oct. 28, 2006. The Oilers won the first two games on this homestand to improve to 17-14-1 as hosts.
The most recent victory in Edmonton came Tuesday, when the Oilers beat league-leading Detroit 4-3 for their NHL single season-record 13th shootout win. Robert Nilsson scored the lone goal in the extra period, helping Edmonton improve to 13-3 in shootouts.
The mark surpassed the record previously held by Dallas, which went 12-1 in 2005-06.
Much of that success is due to Garon, who is 9-0 this season and 14-4 in career shootout situations.
One of Garon's shootout victories this season came in Los Angeles (26-34-4), where he led the Oilers to a 4-3 victory. Garon, though, was also in net for Edmonton's 3-1 home loss on Jan. 15 in the teams' most recent meeting.
Garon, who spent the previous two seasons playing for the Kings, is 2-2-0 with a 2.46 goals-against average in four appearances against his former team. If he gets the starting nod, he looks to help the Oilers avoid consecutive home losses to the Kings for the first time since they lost back-to-back games Oct. 10, 1998-Jan. 5, 1999.
Los Angeles leads the season series 2-0-1, but hasn't won the four-game set since it went 3-0-0 with a tie in 1998-99.
The Kings will open a four-game road trip, but have lost three of their last four away games. Their 12 road wins are tied with Edmonton's for the fewest in the Western Conference.
On Saturday, Los Angeles concluded its three-game homestand with a 1-1-1 record following a 6-5 overtime loss to Chicago. The Kings rallied back from a 5-1 deficit as Michael Cammalleri, Tom Preissing, Patrick O'Sullivan and Anze Kopitar scored goals in the final 11 minutes of regulation before Chicago scored in overtime.
Cammalleri, Kopitar - the team leader with 27 goals and 60 points - and Alexander Frolov each posted multipoint efforts for Los Angeles, which has lost four of its last six overall.
The Kings have a road record of 12-17-2 and their last 10 games is a record of 5-4-1.
The Oilers have a home record of 17-14-1, and their last 10 games is a record of 6-4.
The Kings continue their road trip on Saturday night against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center.
"That was a lot of blood and guts there in the third period. This is as good an overtime loss as you're ever going to see," Kings coach Marc Crawford said. "It was special to see our guys battle the way they did. It's a real character builder for our team."
"I think we deserved that point," said Kopitar, who leads the Kings with 27 goals. "Going into the third period down 5-1, you have to work hard and show some emotion. You have to show that you're not quitting. Then the goals start coming and everyone gets excited."
"If we could find a way to start games like we played in the third period, we'd be a heck of a hockey team," Cloutier said with a faint laugh. "But for me, I've got to be better on some of those goals."
"When you come in from the bench, you don't have time to think very much. You just go in and play," Ersberg said. "I got off to a good start with a couple of easy shots, and then I just kept on going."
Peter Harrold on the possibility of sticking with the Kings the rest of the season now that Stuart was traded:
"You hope so. This is where I want to be. Stuart’s a great guy and was very nice when I was here. It’s sad to see him go. But, at the same time, I have an opportunity here to prove myself so I’m going to take advantage of it.''
Peter Harrold on Blake staying and the possibility of learning from him (he hasn't really been able to play with or watch Blake play much because of Blake's injury):
"Obviously he’s going to be a Hall of Famer. You try to learn as much as you can from him since he’s a wealth of knowledge. You try to watch him and do as he does. It’s really cool for a young kid to come in and get to learn from a guy like him.''
Ladislav Nagy on his injured neck:
"I still have pain when I put my neck back. It’s improving but not really what I’m expecting. If it’s not going to get better in the next 2-3 weeks, then I’m going to have to think about surgery. I don’t want to have surgery. It’s the last option. But, if it’s not going to get better, then maybe I have to do it. If I have surgery, then it’s done (his season).''
Enjoy the following interviews & quotes brought to you by Matthew Kredell.
Los Angeles Kings
Derek Armstrong (Left knee sprain on 2/22/08) day-to-day
Rob Blake (Left ankle fracture on 2/2/08) IR
Jason LaBarbera (Groin injury on 2/21/08) day-to-day
Ladislav Nagy (Sore neck on 1/19/08) IR
Edmonton Oilers
Shawn Horcoff (Left shoulder surgery on 2/1/08) IR
Ethan Moreau (Fractured left leg on 2/25/08) day-to-day
Ladislav Smid (Sprained left ankle on 2/22/08) day-to-day
Sheldon Souray (Torn labrum and bicep on 1/25/08) IR
Tyler Spurgeon (Undisclosed injury on 10/2/07) IR
Raffi Torres (Torn right ACL on 12/15/07) IR
***GDT - Los Angeles Kings @ Edmonton Oilers - 2/28/08*** 
TonySCV
